DAY 4–Panama Railway Company, Gatun Locks & Colon

Currently tuned into Paradise City by Guns and Roses

Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green
And the girls are pretty
Take me home
(Oh, won't you please take me home?)

Only that the lyrics would be (Oh, won’t you please let me stay?)

It’s almost hard to believe that we’re halfway through this amazing trip – almost surreal how time just passes so quickly.

Day 4 – Started off the day with the usual Champion breakfast at the hotel lobby, complete with eat all-you-can Continental breakfast buffet spread, egg station, cereals and fruits. Usually, this is the time when everyone looks their ‘best’, with their semi-combed hair and barely opened eyes, but today, ‘classy’ would be irrefutably the most appropriate word I could use to describe ourselves. The guys donned ties with suave-looking suits while the girls, well, looked gorgeous, as usual of course with their office attire (my apologies, just bad when it comes to describing the opposite gender’s outfit)!

For today, we were visiting the Panama Canal Railway Company. Arrived 10 min ahead of schedule before 8 only be told that the executive in-charge had some last minute plans so we were told to return at 9 a.m. – something I remember studying about emerging markets with the different perspective when it comes to time. In Latin America, being way too early could be seen as being somewhat rude, and most of the time being late is somewhat acceptable – a huge contrary compared to the states. Spontaneous as we were, we headed to one of the hilltops where we had a wonderful view where all the containers were stored.

Panoramic view of the containers from the hilltop

Headed back and was given a presentation by the operations manager, Mr. Eduardo followed by a facility tour. When asked what happens when the train ever goes off track, Mr. Eduardo simply replied : “We just can’t let that happen”.

The railway controller explaining the complicated process of monitoring the train’s whereabouts

Here’s when the whole, if I may, highlight of the trip comes in – our visit to Gatun Locks, one of the locks located in the Panama Canal. Here, we were greeted by our guide, the operations manager of the canal, Mr. Edwin who is a big fan of the buckeyes and who has been leading this tour since the first time the Ohio State University organized its visit to the canal.

Guess what? We were granted exclusive access to the canal operations room. Mind you, this is the place where only top diplomats and presidents of countries visit, and here we are, a bunch of young, ambitious teenagers given such privileged access to the control room. We even had the opportunity to walk on the lock gates (which was the only way to get to the access room) – simply breathtaking and definitely a money can’t buy experience.

The millions of gallons of water flushed out into the ocean from the locks. To put that into perspective, it’s 52 million of gallons of water per ship, 35 ships on average a day – you do the math. This is one of the incentives as to why the new canal expansion plans are taking shape – to conserve water (60% of the water used by the locks will be recycled).

Mr. Edwin showing us the traditional way the locks are controlled

This is where all the action takes place : The controlling of the locks. Ross, Erik and Professor Dickstein were privileged to be given the opportunity of opening the locks – with the click of mouse, of course.

And what’s a better way than to show you our amazing experience crossing the locks than a video itself?

After the locks, we were driven to Colon – a duty free zone located close to the ports. Due to time constraint, we didn’t spend too much time here as we had a train to catch.

Other than transporting goods by the TEUs (measurement of a 20 feet container), the railway company also has a passenger train service. Before the new Amador causeway was opened, according to Mr. Edwin the passenger train was always crowded – with executives, that is. That is because a two way ticket cost $48 – a price not many blue-collar workers could afford. The train is decorated in a very cozy, with dim orange lights and train ladies patrolling the corridors serving drinks.

Aaron & Dan with a scenic background

Lily, Andi & Mallory with a view of the containers at the background

There was also a section in the train compartment where one could take in some fresh air, or simply admire the lush rainforest on the left and right of the rail tracks. We watched as the sun gradually goes down the horizon, casting a lovely orange silhouette on our surroundings, basking in that serenity away from the hustle bustle of the city life.

Tomorrow : Visit to Copa Airlines, Panama homegrown airline that is expanding internationally – bigger and better!